• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy in bulky stage IB, IIA-B uterine cervix cancers. Methods and Materials : Twenty four patients with bulky stage IB and IIA-B carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated with extrafascial hysterectomy following radiation therapy due to doubts of residual disease at Department of therapeutic radiology, Keimyung University, Dongsan Hospital, from April 1986 to December 1997 According to FIGO staging system, there were 7 patients with stage IB, 9 patients with IIA and 8 patients with IIB stage whose median age was 45. Pathologic distribution showed 16 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 8 patients with adenocarcinoma. Seven patients had tumors that are less than 5cm in size and 17 patients had tumors with larger than 5cm. The mean interval between radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy was 57 days. The radiation therapy consisted of external irradition to the whole pelvis (180 cGy/fraction, mean 4100 cGy) and parametrial boost (for a mean total dose of 5000 cGy) with midline shield (4H 10 cm), followed by intracavitary irradiation up to 7500 cGy to point A (maximum 8500 cGy). The maximum follow up duration was 107 months and mean follow up duration was 42 months. Results :Ten out of 24 patients (41.7%) had residual disease found at the time of extrafascial hysterectomies. Five year overall survival rate (5Y OSR) and five year disease free survival rate (5Y DFSR) were 63.6% and 62.5% respectively. Five year overall survival rate for stage IB and IIA was 71.4% and 50% for stage IIB. There was a significant difference in 5Y OSR and 5Y DFSR between patients with and those without residual disease (negative vs positive, 83.3% vs. 40% (P=0.01), 83.3% vs 36% (P=0.01) respectively). There was a notable tendency of better survival with adenocarcinoma than with squamous cell carcinoma (adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma, 85.7% vs. 53.3% (P=0.1), 85.7% vs. 50.9% (P=0.1) of 5Y OSR and 5Y DFS respectivey). Total dose to A point did not make a significant difference in survival rate or the existence of residual lesion (< 7500 cGy, ${\geq}$ 7500 cOy). It was also noted that significantly more frequent local failures have occurred in patients with positive residual disease compared with negative residual disease (5/10 vs. 0/14, p=0.003), There was no death related to the treatment. Conclusion : There was no improvement of residual disease and to the overall survival rate in spite of increased total dose to point A. We conclude that there is a possible beneficial effect of radiation therapy followed by extrafaseial hysterectomy in survival for adenocarcinoma of bulky stage IB and IIA-B uterine cervix. We need to confirm this with longer follow up and with large number of patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2010

Purpose: We investigated the effect of location changes in the inferior border of the belly board (BB) aperture by adding a bladder compression device (BCD). Materials and Methods: We respectively reviewed data from 10 rectal cancer patients with a median age 64 years (range, 45~75) and who underwent computed tomography (CT) simulation with the use of BB to receive pelvic radiotherapy between May and September 2010. A CT simulation was again performed with the addition of BCD since small bowel (SB) within the irradiated volume limited boost irradiation of 5.4 Gy using the cone down technique after 45 Gy. The addition of BCD made the inferior border of BB move from symphysis pubis to the lumbosacral junction (LSJ). Results: Following the addition of BCD, the irradiated volumes of SB and the abdominopelvic cavity (APC) significantly decreased ($174.3{\pm}89.5mL$ vs. $373.3{\pm}145.0mL$, p=0.001, $1282.6{\pm}218.7mL$ vs. $1,571.9{\pm}158mL$, p<0.001, respectively). Bladder volume within the treated volume increased with BCD ($222.9{\pm}117.9mL$ vs. $153.7{\pm}95.5mL$, p<0.001). The ratio of irradiated bladder volume to APC volume with BCD ($33.5{\pm}14.7%$) increased considerably compared to patients without a BCD ($27.5{\pm}13.1%$) (p<0.001), and the ratio of irradiated SB to APC volume decreased significantly with BCD ($13.9{\pm}7.6%$ vs. $24.2{\pm}10.2%$, p<0.001). The ratios of the irradiated SB volume and irradiated bladder volume to APC volume negatively correlated (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the addition of BCD, which made the inferior border of BB move up to the LSJ, increased the ratio of the bladder to APC volume and as a result, decreased the irradiated volume of SB.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was conducted to evaluate the treatment results, prognostic factors, and complication rates after high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in patients with uterine cervix cancer who were treated with curative aim. Materials and Methods : Of 269 cervix cancer patients treated at the department of radiation oncology, Samsung Medical Center from September 1994 to July 1998, the 106 who were treated with radical radio-therapy were analyzed. The median age was 61 years (range 22 to 89). All patients except 4 with carcinoma in situ (CIS) were given external beam radiotherapy (range $30.6\~50.4\;Gy$ to whole pelvis) and HDR brachytherapy. The common regimens of HDR brachytherapy were a total dose of $24\~28\;Gy$ with $6\~7$ fractions to point A at two fractions per week. The median overall treatment time was 55 days (range 44 to 104) in patients given both external beam radiotherapy and HDR brachytherapy. Results : Early responses of radiotherapy were evaluated by gynecologic examination and follow-up MRI 1 month after radiotherapy. Treatment responses were complete remission in 72 patients, partial response in 33 and no response in 1. The overall survival (OS) rate of all patients was $82\%,\;and\;73\%$, and the disease free survival (DFS) rate was $72\%,\;and\;69\%$, at 3, and 5 years, respectively. The pelvic control rate (PCR) was $79\%$ at both 3 and 5 years. According to the FIGO stage,3 and 5 year OS were $100\%\;and\;50\%$ in CIS/IA, $100\%\;and\;100%$ in IB, $83\%\;and\;69\%$ in IIA, $87\%\;and\;80\%$ in IIB, and $62\%\;and\;62\%$ in III, respectively. The 3 year OS in 4 patients with stage IVA was $100\%$. Three-year DFS were $80\%$ in CIS/IA, $88\%$ in IB, $100\%$ in IIA, $64\%$ in IIB, $58\%$ in III, and $75\%$ in IVA. Three-year PCR were $100\%$ in CIS/IA, $94\%$ in IB, $100\%$ in IIA, $84\%$ in IIB, $69\%$ in III, and $50\%$ in IVA. By univariate analysis, FIGO stage and treatment response were significant factors for OS. The significant factors for DFS were age, FIGO stage, treatment response and overall treatment time (OTT). For pelvic control rate, treatment response and OTT were significant factors. By multivariate analysis, FIGO stage had a borderline significance for OS (p=0.0825) and treatment response had a borderline significance for DFS (0=0.0872). A total of 14 patients $(13\%)$ experienced rectal bleeding, which occurred from 3 to 44 months (median, 13 months) after the completion of radiotherapy. Conclusion : HDR brachytherapy protocol of Samsung Medical Center combined with properly optimal external beam pelvic irradiation is a safe and effective treatment for patients with uterine cervix cancer. The authors found that OTT of less than 55 days had a positive impact on pelvic control and survival rate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.611-618
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• 2004

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), a subtype of IIP(idiopathic interstitial pneumonia), is a fatal disease with a 3-5 year median survival. Many attempts at treating this condition have failed to demonstrate a survival benefit in IPF. Recently Ziesche et $al^{12}$ reported the efficacy of IFN-${\gamma}$ for treating IPF but there is still some controversy. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of IFN-${\gamma}$ in patients with advanced IPF who had not been responsive to steroid and cytotoxic agents. Method : Nine patients with advanced IPF(age: $55.4{\pm}15.3$ years, Male: Female=8:1) were enrolled. One year treatment regime with 2 million IU of IFN-${\gamma}$ administered subcutaneously three times a week, and low dose prednisolone(10-30 mg/d) was also used. In the case of a definite aggravation and serious side effects, the IFN-${\gamma}$ was discontinued. During the IFN-${\gamma}$ trial, a pulmonary function test and chest radiography were checked every three month throughout the study. Result : 1) Among 9 patients, only 4 patients were able to complete the 12 month treatment with IFN-${\gamma}$, and 5 patients died during the treatment period. 2) No improvement either in the respiratory symptoms or pulmonary functions were observed any of the patients, even in those who completed the 12 months trial of IFN-${\gamma}$, 3) At the time of IFN-${\gamma}$ trial, the survivors who finished the IFN-${\gamma}$ treatment for 12 months had a higher oxygen level($81.3{\pm}2.8$ vs. $67.4{\pm}8.4$, P=0.024) and a better pulmonary function(FVC: $61.3{\pm}5.1$ % predicted vs. $45.7{\pm}12.3%$, P=0.048, and $D_Lco$: $45.0{\pm}5.0%$ predicted vs. $30.8{\pm}11.2%$, P=0.048) than the non-survivors. Conclusion : Our data suggested that IFN-${\gamma}$ therapy was not effective in the patients with advanced IPF refractory compared with other therapeutic agents. Furthermore, these results suggest that severe impairment of the pulmonary function and hypoxemia during the IFN-${\gamma}$ therapy requires special attention.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome according to the salvage treatment modalities and identify the prognostic factors influencing the survival. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer treated between 1994 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Median time from initial surgery to loal recurrence was 16months. Of the patients, 25 (56%) recurred at presacral and perirectal space. Among the 18 (40%) patients who received salvage surgery, 14 patients were treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Among 27 (60%) patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, 16 were treated with chemoradiotherapy and 11 were treated with radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy was given with total dose ranging from 37.5 to 64.8 Gy. Results: Five-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of all patents were 49.5% and 34.3%, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of patients undergoing salvage surgery were 77.0% and 52.1% compared with 36.0% and 37.9% f3r patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and 0% and 0% for patients treated with radiotherapy alone, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression free survival and overall survival of patients who recurred earlier than 24 months were higher (67.5% and 59.1%) than the other patients (39.5% and 24.9%). Among the 27 patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, there was no significant difference for locoregional progression free survival and overall survival between re-irradiated patients and radiation-naive patients. Conclusion: Surgical resection is preferred to treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer. If salvage surgery is not possible, chemoradiotherapy may achieve higher locoregional progression free survival and overall survival than radiotherapy alone.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2000

Background : The purpose of decortication is to eliminate the infection focus and to improve the decreased lung function due to chronic empyema. However, lung function is not improved in all cases. It would be clinically useful if we could predict prepoperatively whether lung function would improve after decortication. The purpose of this study is to find useful indices for predicting the possible improvement of lung function after decortication. Method : The medical records of 37 tuberculous empyema patients who underwent pleural decortication were analyzed retrospectively from 1990 to 1996. The measurements of preoperative and postoperative foræd vital capacity(FVC) were used for evaluating the effects of decortication. Results : The sex ratio was 29:8 (male to female), and the median age was 34 years. The time interval between the formation of empyema and operation was 1 month to 30 years. Postoperative pulmonary function test was performed 5.4$\pm$2.6 months later. FVC(forced vital capacity) was significantly increased from 2.77$\pm$0.67(L) to 2.95$\pm$0.81(L). Interestingly, postoperative pulmonary function was significantly improved in patients who were less than 40 years old, within 4 months after diagnosis of tuberculous empyema, in the group with FVC of less than 60% of the predicted value and in the absence of calcification. Conclusion : The improvement of lung function after decortication was expected in patients younger than 40 years old, within 4 months after diagnosis of tuberculous empyema, in the group having less than 60% of the predicted FVC, without calcification.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2003

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the role of postoperative radiation therapy in extrahepatic bile duct cancers. Materials and Methods: Between 1997 and 2001, 41 patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer having undergone surgical resection were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 41 patients, 22 were treated by surgery alone (Group I) with remaining 19 treated by surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (Group II). A gross total surgical resection with pathologically negative margins was peformed in 11 of the patients (50$\%$) in Group 1, and in 7 of the patients (36.8$\%$) in Group II. There were no significant differences in the disease stage, surgical procedure or pathological characteristics of the two groups. The patients in group II received 45$\~$54 Gy (median: 50.4 Gy) of external beam radiation therapy to the tumor bed and draining nodal area. Results: The local failure rate was significantly higher In group I (54.5$\%$) than in group II (15.8$\%$)(p=0.01). Of the 12 failed patients in Group I and the 3 failed patients in group II, 7 and 3 had a positive resection margin. The overall 3-year survival rates were 38.3 and 38.9$\%$ and the 3-year disease free survival rates were 18.8 and 26.3$\%$ in groups I and II, respectively. However, the patients with positive resection margins who received adjuvant radiation therapy had higher 3-year overall survival rates than those with surgery alone (36.4$\%$ vs. 24.2$\%$, p=0.06), and 3-year disease free survival rate was significantly higher in the group II patients who had positive margins compared with those in group I (25.0$\%$ vs. 18.2$\%$, p=0.04). Conclusion: Postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy appeared to reduce the incidence of local failure in patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer, and might improve the survival rate in the patients with positive resection margins.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.929-941
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• 1996

This study was conducted to determine the association between weighted needle pinprick sensory threshold(PPT) and sensory nerve conduction studies. The subjects were 53 healthy controls, 31 diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DM) and 36 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathic symptoms(DN). PPT was measured on the index and little fingers, bilaterally, as well as under the lateral malleolus, bilaterally. In electrophysiologic assessment the left and right median, ulnar and sural nerves were studied. Mean PPT in DN, DM and controls was high in turn on each sites tested. Age controlled PPT was significantly different among three groups on right little finger(p<0.05) and left malleolus(p<0.05), but on other sites, not statistically significantly different between DN and DM. The results were as follows: Sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude on each nerve tested were statistically significantly different among three groups(p<0.05). Correlation of PPT with sensory nerve conduction velocity and amplitude were statistically significant on each site and ranged from -0.4203(left malleolus) to -0.5649(right index finger) and from -0.3897(left index finger) to -0.6200(right index finger), respectively. When electrophysiological study is not feasible, measurement of PPT may be helpful for the assessment of peripheral sensory neurological function.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.307-315
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to study the differences of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression between Korean and Caucasian patients with early-onset breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. The test were analyzed to find a correlation between COX-2 and other biomarkers including HER-2/neu amplification, because we previously reported that a significant difference had been found in the expression of HER-2/neu between the two races. Furthermore, we investigated prognostic significance of COX-2 in korean patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty Korean women who were diagnosed breast carcinoma at 45 years old or younger and 60 Caucasian women with breast carcinoma were selected for this study. The median age of both groups was 37 years and tumor sizes were distributed evenly between the two group. Paraffin embedded blocks of primary tumor were processed for immunohistochemical staining of COX-2. The COX-2 expression was evaluated according to the percentage of positive cells and the intensity of staining. And the results were compared with the data of the previous studies to find correlation between COX-2 and other parameters and survival data. Results: Proportion of the COX-2 expression in total patients was $27.6\%$. The percentage of tumors that stained positive for COX-2 in korean and Caucasian women with early-onset breast carcinoma were $37.9\%$ and $20.8\%$, respectively. The difference was statistically not significant(p=0.090). Expression of COX-2 was not associated with several clinicopathologic parameters including HER-2/neu overexpression, but negative estrogen receptor status was correlated with significance (p=0.046). The 5 year disease free survival rate for patients with COX-2 expression was $67.9\%$, compared to $81.9\%$ of the COX-2 negative patients and the result was statistically not significant. Conclusions : A significant difference was not found in the expression of COX-2 between the two groups of patients with early-onset breast carcinoma. And correlation between COX-2 and other parameters was not observed except estrogen receptor negativity. Large scaled further research including radiotherapy factors will be needed to identify COX-2 as a prognostic role in patients with early-onset breast carcinoma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.538-544
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• 2005

Background: Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is an initial palliative procedure for a diverse group of patients with congenital cardiac anomalies and unrestricted pulmonary blood flow. We proved the usefulness of PAB through retrospective investigation of the surgical indication and risk analysis retrospectively. Material and Method: One hundred and fifty four consecutive patients (99 males and 55 females) who underwent PAB between January 1986 and December 2003 were included. We analysed the risk factors for early mortality and actuarial survival rate. Mean age was $2.5\pm12.8\;(0.2\sim92.7)$ months and mean weight was $4.5\pm2.7\;(0.9\sim18.0)\;kg$. Preoperative diagnosis included functional single ventricle $(88,\;57.1\%)$, double outlet right ventricle $(22,\;14.2\%)$, transposition of the great arteries $(26,\;16.8\%)$, and atrioventricular septal defect $(11,\;7.1\%)$. Coarctation of the aorta or interrupted aortic arch $(32,\;20.7\%)$, subaortic stenosis $(13,\;8.4\%)$ and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection $(13,\;8.4\%)$ were associated. Result: The overall early mortality was $22.1\%\;(34\;of\;154)$, The recent series from 1996 include patients with lower age $(3.8\pm15.9\;vs.\;1.5\pm12.7,\;p=0.04)$ and lower body weight $(4.8\pm3.1\;vs.\;4.0\pm2.7,\;p=0.02)$. The early mortality was lower in the recent group $(17.5\%;\;16/75)$ than the earlier group $(28.5\%;\;18/45)$. Aortic arch anomaly (p=0.004), subaortic stenosis (p=0.004), operation for subaortic stenosis (p=0.007), and cardiopulmonary bypass (p=0.007) were proven to be risk factors for early death in univariate analysis, while time of surgery (<1996) (p=0.026) was the only significant risk factor in multivariate analysis. The mean time interval from PAB to the second-stage operation was $12.8\pm10.9$ months. Among 96 patients who survived PAB, 40 patients completed Fontan operation, 21 patients underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt, and 35 patients underwent biventricular repair including 25 arterial switch operations. Median follow-up was $40.1\pm48.9$ months. Overall survival rates at 1 year, 5 years and 10 years were $81.2\%\;65.0\%,\;and\;63.5\%$ respectively. Conclusion: Although it improved in recent series, early mortality was still high despite the advances in perioperative management. As for conventional indications, early primary repair may be more beneficial. However, PA banding still has a role in the initial palliative step in selective groups.